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Political Hotspot December 2023

With an eye on next year’s elections, the EU institutions have geared up work on many important dossiers. But rushing…
14/12/2023
GMOs

The hidden dangers of NGTs in the EU: key takeaways from our 30/11/2023 press conference

These videos were recorded during a press conference held by IFOAM Organics Europe on 30/11/2023, urging Members of the European…
08/12/2023
GMOs

Can we (gene) edit our way to sustainable agriculture?

We argue “No”. NGTs, so called New Genomic Techniques, are touted as making agriculture more sustainable by tweaking individual traits…
30/11/2023
GMOs

Policymakers should respect organic movement's choice not to use NGTs

BRUSSELS, 30 NOVEMBER 2023 – Speaking at an online press conference this morning, Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe,…

Protecting our soils across the EU

In July, the European Commission published its proposal on a Soil Monitoring and Resilience law. As IFOAM Organics Europe, we…

Agreement on nature restoration law: Important signal to transform farming

Negotiators from the European Parliament and Council reached a final agreement on the Nature Restoration Law (NRL). As European organic…
19/10/2023
GMOs

European Parliament should uphold ban for all NGTs in organic in rapporteur's report

BRUSSELS, 19 OCTOBER 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe, the voice for organic food and farming in Europe, is strongly against…
15/10/2023
GMOs

Policy process of new EU legislation on “New Genomic Techniques” in full motion – Organic movement needs to be on high alert 

After the publication of the legislative proposal on so-called “New Genomic Techniques”, the policy process in the European Union institutions…

Celebrating life – a few highlights from th September 2023 Newsletter!  

Recently we issued the last edition of our newsletter. Wondering why it’s interesting for you? We have prepared a quick…

Six-fold increase in organic seeds needed in the next ten years in Europe – 2nd European Organic Seed Policy Conference shows pathways to make organic seeds a reality

The Spanish Presidency of the European Union put a spotlight on rural areas and agricultural resilience during a High-level Rural…
11/09/2023
Events GMOs

GMO-free Europe conference - 7 September 2023

On 7 September, the 10th GMO free Europe conference gathered policymakers, scientists, farmers, and representatives of the organic and the…

Promoting social innovation through public canteens! Join us at the EU Week of Regions and Cities

On 10 October, we are organising a high-level workshop Promoting Social Innovation through public canteens to advocate for the implementation…
01/09/2023
GMOs

Organic sector calls on agriculture ministers to prioritise agroecological innovation over techno-fixes

BRUSSELS, 1 SEPTEMBER 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe urges Agriculture Ministers to uphold a systemic approach of innovation and sustainability…
25/07/2023
GMOs

What are new GMOs and what’s at risk? Watch our new video

In July 2023, the European Commissions published its legislative proposal on “New Genomic Techniques”. We have the pleasure to announce…
12/07/2023
Biodiversity

Nature restoration law adopting gives hope for food & farming systems

BRUSSELS, 12 JULY 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes the adoption of the Nature Restoration Law by MEPs today. Jan…
05/07/2023
GMOs

NGT proposal a step backward for biosafety, freedom of choice and consumers' information

BRUSSELS, 5 JULY 2023 – IFOAM Organics Europe considers the Commission’s proposal to deregulate “New Genomic Techniques” (NGTs) as misguided,…
22/06/2023
GMOs

European organic movement resolution: No hidden GMOs, system-based approach to innovation

BRUSSELS, 22 JUNE 2023 – In a resolution adopted yesterday at its General Assembly, the European organic movement re-affirms that…

Jan Plagge re-elected President of IFOAM Organics Europe

BRUSSELS, 21 JUNE 2023 – At today’s General Assembly, IFOAM Organics Europe’s membership elected a new Board and Jan Plagge…
12/06/2023
Biodiversity

Farmers want nature restoration

On 15 June the European Parliament’s Environment Committee will vote on their report on the Nature Restoration Law. Organic farmers…
26/05/2023
GMOs

300+ organizations unite to send strong signal to Frans Timmermans, demanding a shift to evidence-based sustainability food systems rather than unfounded hope on new GMOs

More than 300 organizations signed a letter sent to Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal in the…

Political Hotspot May 2023

The proposal for an EU nature restoration law is facing major opposition, recently leading to the rejection of the whole…
22/05/2023
Biodiversity

Nature restoration, crucial for resilient food & farming systems

BRUSSELS, 22 MAY 2023 – Biodiversity protection and well-functioning ecosystems are essential for food production. But the Commission’s proposal on…

National CAP Strategic Plans: On the road to achieving the 25% organic target

The Horizon Europe project OrganicTargets4EU supports the achievement of the targets set by the EU’s Farm to Fork and Biodiversity…

ECO-READY: Developing a European Observatory for short and long-term food and agriculture resilience strategies

The ECO-READY project aspires to identify climate-change drivers affecting food security and biodiversity across Europe. The comprehensive understanding of the EU…

The multiple benefits of organic for climate and biodiversity – visualised in our new infographic 

The systemic approach of organic farming contributes to climate mitigation, supports the adaptation of farmers to the consequences of climate…

Political Hotspot March 2023

After a postponement in November 2022, on 22 March 2023 the European Commision’s proposal for a Directive on substantiation and…
22/03/2023
GMOs

EU environmental ministers give clear signal to Commission to maintain precautionary principle & risk assessment for NGTs

On 16 March, the Council meeting of environmental ministers sent a decisive message to the European Commission as a large…
08/03/2023
GMOs

We want to be able to choose! Ensure GMO-free food production.

Update 23.03.2023: Junges Bioland initiated an online petition on this topic, addressed to Olaf Scholz, Germany’s Prime Minister, and to…

February 2023 Newsletter - Multilingual Edition

Read this Special Newsletter edition in CZ, DE, ES, FR, HU, IT, LT, NL, PL, PT, RO Welcome note  Dear reader,  Welcome to a very special edition of our newsletter. At…
13/02/2023
GMOs

European Court of Justice decision on ‘in vitro’ mutagenesis strengthens 2018 ruling subjecting gene editing to EU GMO Directive

The recent ruling by the European Court of Justice, published on 7 February, closes a 2015 case brought forward by…

Study on the environmental impacts of achieving 25% organic land by 2030 published

The European Union’s ambitious Farm to Fork Strategy target of 25% organic farmland by 2030 is a clear statement of…
08/02/2023
Events GMOs

Successful GMO petition handover to the Commission

On February 7, environmental, agricultural, and consumer rights organizations gathered in front of the European Parliament in Brussels to officially…
06/02/2023
GMOs

New year, old narratives – Why genetic engineering is (still) not the solution to food security

The European Commission kicked off 2023 by publishing a report on the drivers of food security, recognising the value of…
14/12/2021
GMOs

Commission event: Can New Genetic Engineering Techniques (NGETs) be sustainable?

The European Commission invited stakeholders, public officials, and politicians for a high-level event to discuss their plans to launch new…

Read our new leaflet on plant health care in organic farming

Have you ever heard of all the preventive plant protection measures implemented by organic farmers to produce food without using…

Welcome note October 2021 newsletter

Dear readers, Autumn has reached Europe, and unlike nature at this time of year, our work is not slowing down.…
12/10/2021
GMOs

Participate in Commission Public Consultation to keep (new) GMOs regulated and to protect organic

As covered in the last edition of the newsletter, the Commission is considering a new legal proposal for so-called “New…

Over 1 million signatures demanding a restoration of biodiversity & support for farmers

Across Europe, more than 1 million citizens are calling for a reduction of 80% in the use of synthetic pesticides…
28/09/2021
GMOs

Public consultation for new legal proposal upcoming

On 29 April 2021, the European Commission published a study on the status of New Genomic Techniques under Union law…
22/09/2021
Biodiversity

Sign ‘save bees and farmers’ before 30 September!

In case you have not signed the European Citizens’ Initiative to ‘Save bees and farmers’ yet, you can still do…
08/09/2021
GMOs

The debate about new GMOs in Europe: Our Policy Coordinator in conversation with Slow Food Europe

In their podcast series on European food and farming policies, Slow Food Europe brings together experts to discuss hot matters…
06/08/2021
Biodiversity

Only few days left to sign the European Citizens’ Initiative to save bees and farmers!

To those in our network who have not signed the European Citizens’ Initiative to ‘Save bees and farmers’ yet, you…

How can EU policies consider organic farming’s benefits for biodiversity?

IFOAM Organics Europe recently published a new report highlighting the contribution of organic farming to protecting Europe’s biodiversity. By setting…

Comics showing why industrial agriculture is broken

In May 2020, the EU released its Biodiversity and Farm to Fork strategies as part of the European Green Deal.…

Beekeepers and civil society concerned about pesticide risk assessment methodology

At the Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH) Council on 28-29 June, Member State representatives will vote on a crucial step for…

IPBES and IPCC call to prioritize solutions benefiting both biodiversity and climate

On 10 June 2021, scientist and leading experts from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and…
09/06/2021
GMOs

European retailers take a strong stand against deregulating new GMOs

On 26 May 2021, European retailers took a strong stand against deregulating new GMOs in a joint resolution. One of…
22/05/2021
Biodiversity

Organic is Part of the Solution in Ensuring Biodiversity

This article was first published by IFOAM Organics International on their blog ‘Organic without boundaries‘. Each and every animal, microorganism…
 
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